Ceramic engineer as a career option

Monday, December 24, 2012

661770

Ceramic engineering is the science and technology of creating ceramic objects from inorganic, non-metallic materials. Ceramic materials are used widely from household utensils to spacecraft as heat-resistant materials.

There are dozens of different possible ways to define ceramic materials. But the best possible one is any product, having definite shape, made up of non-metallic inorganic raw materials (maybe minerals or artificial) which form an incoherent powdery state, are transfor med via various processes, into a semi-finished item, which through firing (heat treatment) becomes a solid object of partially crystalline and partially vitreous structure.

Ceramic engineering is the science and technology of creating ceramic objects from inorganic, non-metallic materials. Ceramic materials are used widely from household utensils to spacecraft as heat-resistant materials. The special character of ceramic materials gives rise to many applications in materials, electrical, chemical and mechanical engineering. Ceramic engineering refers to the processing and fabrication of components/ devices/ machines of ceramics for technological applications, and glasses of various kinds. The ceramics industry in India is growing. (Also read: Employment 2012: Hiring trends in 2012)

Clockwork

The average day of a ceramic engineer (in an R&D organisation):

8.30am: Plan the experimental and product development activity for the day

The salary varies from person to person and company to company but the startup bracket is between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh per annum. With some experience, you can earn between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 9 lakh a year.

Skills/Traits

Strong grounding in basic sciences

Innovativeness n Analytical skills

Hands-on approach

Team-spirit n Problem-solving attitude

Communications skills

Good at product designing

Should be able to understand the demand of the market

Getting there

Take science in Class 12, thereafter you can pursue a bachelor’s in ceramic engineering, entry is usually through a competitive test. There are lots of national and regional engineering colleges where ceramic engineering is taught. A master’s degree coupled with a doctorate later can brighten your career prospects.

Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (a branch of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Kolkata, organises different training programmes

Pros and cons

Ceramic engineers pursue an off-beat career

Those in production may have to spend more time at production or construction sites, and work overtime or in rotating shifts

Ceramic engineers may need to travel a lot

Initially, the job is low paying as compared to engineers from certain other branches

The job requires you to be good at designing and visualising products

The work timings are fixed, and one can enjoy a healthy social life

A ceramic engineer’s job is getting challenging by the day with most people asking for innovative product development and solutions design

The ceramics industry in India is growing at a CAGR of 15%. The future looks bright as many corrective measures are being taken by organised players in the industry Madhur Daga, executive director, Orient Ceramics and Industries Ltd, New Delhi. (Also read: Engineering sector overview)

Aquaculture is the controlled cultivation of freshwater and marine resources, both plant and animal, for human consumption. Acquaculturists work in natural water bodies or in artificial ponds, lakes or reservoirs.
Read more